Patent Troll: Z4 Technologies
It would seem that Z4 Technologies has filed a patent covering the concept of using a two-level password process in order to activate newly installed software.
If you look up Z4 Technologies, they do not offer ANY actual services or products that utilize their patents. Therefore, we need to classify this company as a patent trolling company whose sole purpose is to file lawsuit against companies that later use their ideas.
Thus, this so-called company filed a lawsuit against Microsoft and Autodesk for using their "password" patent and a federal jury awarded them $158 million plus attorney fees. Of course, please note that patent trolling companies usually file their lawsuits in Marshall, Texas, where the courts are quite "friendly" to these companies. Unfortunately, Microsoft and Autodesk's appeals were denied by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
So essentially, for any other software company that wants to implement some sort of two password process to registering or activating the product, you have to pay royalty fees to Z4 Technologies.
Thus, should something like a two password process of DRM be patentable?
Aren't patents supposed to encourage and promote technological advancement, not curtail them?
Are companies like Z4 Technologies only interested in financial gain at the expense of other companies doing all the work for them?
This is another sign of why the patent and intellectual property system must be completely reformed.
If Z4 Technologies tries to sue you, just go and implement a three-password process...oh wait Z5 Technologies just patent that one.
Comments